By University Communications
John W. Welch will speak on science and religion for the annual Hyrum B. Summerhays Lecture Thursday at 7 p.m. in 1080 Harold B. Lee Library. His speech is title, “Forging a Friendly Alliance between Mormonism and Science.”
The event is free, and the public is welcome to attend.
“Forging a successful alliance often means putting two things together that really seem to have nothing to do with each other, but in the end are necessary in order for both to advance,” said Welch, who is the Robert K. Thomas University Professor of Law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School and editor of BYU Studies.
According to Welch, many religions have difficulties with science because they teach that God does not have a body and therefore does not exist in space or time. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that God does have a body of flesh and bone. Welch says this belief allows God to exist in time and space, and therefore is not irrelevant to scientific interests.
The goal of the Summerhays Lecture series is to give the university community and all others interested an opportunity to delve deeper into the relationship between science and religion. It is hosted by the BYU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
